Description

Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA) is a leading organization in the NEK addressing poverty through education, community collaborations, and community action. We believe in each individual’s potential for positive growth and change.

Department: Youth Advocacy Services

POSITION CLASSIFICATION: Permanent / Non-Exempt / Part-Time or Full-Time Available

Salary Range: $20-$23/hr. 

EXCELLENCE IN THIS ORGANIZATION:

NEKCA Mission Statement: To empower all generations in the Northeast Kingdom to grow, prosper and thrive.

• Demonstrate competency in all five areas of NEKCA’s Core Values.
• Demonstrate respect for all NEKCA clients, the choices they make and the challenges they face.
• Engage meaningfully in NEKCA’s DEI initiatives.

SUMMARY:

Coordinators at NEKCA lead and organize across multiple programs and providers to integrate and streamline services throughout our agency and with regional partners. Coordinators are highly collaborative and great communicators. They are responsible for facilitating program and regional meetings and implementing human-centered approaches across all levels of programming. Coordinator responsibilities may include supervision, grant reporting, and ensuring smooth operations at service locations in support of the Program Director.

The Youth Center Coordinator works collaboratively with our agency's youth programs and community partners to uplift the vision and voices of young people in our community. The Youth Center Coordinator will develop and youth-led, adult-guided programs and operations of our Youth drop-in Center(s) that ensure safe, inclusive, and fun third spaces for NEK youth. NEK Youth expressed that their ideal candidate is: engaging, committed, funny, trustworthy, and non-judgmental.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Develop the Youth Center(s) alongside youth and community partners.
• Facilitate Regular Advisory Team meetings that include youth and community partners from a variety of experience to inform ongoing programing that is youth-led. 
• Leads and Chaperones Youth Center Programming and Drop-in Nights.
• Be a safe, sincere, and askable adult for young people in the NEK and offer in the moment support to youth and families.
• Support youth in overcoming barriers to accessing supports and services.
• Lead and support community partners in the best interest of the young people we all serve by attending regular meetings and active participation in uplifting shared initiatives. 
• Organize and mobilize a collaborative process for staffing, funding, and operating the youth center programming and offerings with all stakeholders.
• Be present in the community to meet youth where they are to cultivate trusting relationships. 
• Be available to support local law enforcement in the field to attend youth-related dispatch calls. 
• Support grant management through timely, meaningful and accurate data collection and reporting. 
• Utilize youth engagement and data collection to improve and inform program delivery and design.
• Oversee Youth Peer Supports, Volunteers, and Interns as needed.
• Manage the safety, privacy, security, and staffing of the Youth Center spaces.
• Utilize a restorative justice framework to address conflict across all facets of relationship building for youth and families.

Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, but no formal education is necessary

Experience:

• 1-2 years of lived or working experience with high-risk youth and families in a volunteer, internship, or paid position within education or human services
• Experience in trauma-informed and restorative practices
• Knowledge of healthy adolescent development 
• Peer Support training or experience 
• Experience in collaborative project or program leadership
• Experience with organizing and maintaining a space

Employees in this role are required to undergo a background check in accordance with NEKCA policy, which may include verifying education, employment history, and criminal records.

This position necessitates that employees possess a valid driver's license and have access to dependable transportation.

Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA) is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and a strong sense of belonging in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. NEKCA makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and organization needs at the time.